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Visiting Scholars


The Cairns Institute Visiting Scholars scheme is a mechanism for enhancing collaboration and facilitating the involvement of the broader research, industry and government communities in addressing the ambitious vision of the Institute. Visiting Scholars are normally outstanding researchers or industry/government leaders of international reputation who will enhance the Institute’s expertise and standing. Visiting Scholars are expected to make a significant contribution to The Cairns Institute’s research outcomes through joint research, publications and grant applications; intellectual leadership; and engagement. The appointment of Visiting Scholars is at the discretion of the Management Committee of The Cairns Institute.

The Cairns Institute Visiting Scholars Scheme has concluded with the 2012 intake however The Institute continues to warmly welcome national and international scholars, policy specialists, consultants and trainees providing facilities and infrastructure for excellence and innovation.

2012 Visiting Scholars

Professor Andrew Butcher

Professor of Speech Pathology and Audiology, School of Medicine, Flinders University

February – June 2012

Finalise a monograph on phonetics of Australian languages and prepare at least two journal articles on various issues in the phonetics of Australian Aboriginal languages.Other outcomes will include the preparation of a joint application for ARC LIEF application 'Languages of the tropics' as well as a JCU 'Collaborating across boundaries application jointly with the Department of Speech Pathology fora pilot study that will lead to an NHMRC grant application.

Dr Ravi de Costa

Associate Professor, Faculty of Environmental Studies, York University, Canada

February – May 2012

Examine a new institution that prioritizes biodiversity and environmental sustainability while having the potential to reshape economic opportunities for Indigenous communities in North Queensland.Outcomes will include two scholarly articles developed and authored collaboratively with TCI/JCU researchers; a research seminar on environmental discourses and the Tropical North; and the development of collaborative and interdisciplinary research proposal.

Associate Professor Tazim Jamal

Department of Recreation, Park and Tourism Sciences, Texas A&M University, USA

July – September 2012

Joint leading-edge research in the area of landscape perception research and tourism experience to contribute to long-term climate change impact management and tourism resiliency planning in FNQ which will inform the Climate Change Impact Model developed by Prideaux et al (2010) and contribute to theory building.Other outcomes will include the development of a joint grant proposal aimed towards a larger collaborative project and two joint manuscripts.

Professor Steve Johnson

Distinguished Visiting Professor and Fullbright Fellow, Chulalongkorn University, Thailand

May – July 2012

Facilitate the team that has been assembled to produce a Cultural Atlas for Northern Queensland.This will include creating a preliminary inventory of data on social equity in the Northern Queensland area; and the documentation of the process of creating the cultural atlas, including the social equity chapter to publish in a referred journal.Other outcomes will include the development of a funding and programmatic strategy for social equity research at the Institute as well as a special edition of publications for E-Tropics.

Professor Brian Lewthwaite

Professor, Curriculum, Teaching and Learning, University of Manitoba, Canada

May – July 2012

Through a public lecture, small group meetings and web-based conversations, assist Indigenous student teachers and practicing teachers in developing a detailed understanding of culturally responsive teaching practices through their conversations with community members.Outcomes will include a collaboratively publish book focusing on community members’ stories about teaching and learning, both in informal and formal settings, the presentation of the project at the Australasian Science Education Research Association conference and contribution to a special issue of Culture Studies in Science Education.

Professor Ilango Ponnuswami

Professor & Head, Department of Social Work, Bharathidasan University, India

January – April 2012

Undertake an extensive review of literature relating to community mental health and geriatric mental health issues in Australia with special reference to Tropics.Outcomes will include the preparation of a joint review article, the sharing of expertise with the academic and general community through seminars, public lectures and workshops and the preparation of a grant application to potential international philanthropic bodies for a long term action-oriented research project on geriatric mental health care for people in the tropics.

Professor Biman Prasad

Professor of Economics and Dean of the Faculty of Business and Economics, University of the South Pacific, Fiji

March – June 2012

Help facilitate and establish a research agenda relating to Pacific Island regional and economic development by establishing joint research teams between JCU and the University of the South Pacific.Outcomes will include an application for international development funding for Pacific Economic development relating to regional integration, economic growth and diversification, labour mobility, diasporas and remittances, and strengthening institutions for governance; as well as co-editing a book of Pacific regional integration and the preparation of a journal article on labour mobility.

Professor Elspeth Probyn

Professor of Gender & Cultural Studies The University of Sydney

June – August 2012

Conduct a project ‘Human-fish communities in Far North Queensland: inter-regional trade in people and resources’.Outcomes will include a joint collaborative funding application focusing on gender and ethnicity in the agriculture and aquaculture workforce in FNQ; joint research and publication on food security and food regimes in the tropics and in Australia; and building capacity in multi-disciplinary research on food production and consumption.

Associate Professor Anthony Shakeshaft

Assistant Director, National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre, University of NSW

3 visits between January – November 2012

Facilitate collaboration on several projects, including:Evaluating the cost-effectiveness of Indigenous Australian alcohol interventions; Providing high level research design expertise and support for emerging wellbeing in schools research initiatives; Establishing reliable and valid baseline measures and associated multiple baseline research design in support of Family-Centred Primary Health Care reform across Cape York; and Assessing the cost-effectiveness of the Beat da Binge project and the delivery of drug and alcohol education and clinical services in Yarrabah - resulting in at least four co-authored publications in the international, peer-review literature.Other outcomes will include seminars/workshops with researchers and Indigenous community representatives as well as two co-written grant applications.

Professor Karen Sykes

Director of Research School of Social Sciences and Professor of Anthropology, University of Manchester

February – December 2012

Conduct ethnographic fieldwork with Pacific Islanders resident in the Cairns region and examine new financial devices as they are deployed in life rituals and everyday life.The fieldwork will involve the preparation of fieldwork reports and research seminars; presentation of a master class for small groups; the organisation of a focus group in Cairns region, with Pacific Islanders and others. Further outcomes include articles, a book manuscript and the preparation of a research proposal together with scholars at the Institute for an international research network or research grant.